UK weather: Met Office issues series of heatwave warnings for midweek sizzler – but will it be hot for Bank Holiday?

Britons have been urged to take extra care in the rising temperatures as a two-day heatwave causes large parts of the country to sizzle, The Telegraph reports.

With the mercury expected to hit up to 32C (89.6F) on Wednesday, Public Health England has warned the most vulnerable – including older people, young children and babies – could be at risk.

The Met Office has issued a level three heatwave action alert for eastern England, London and the south east – triggered when threshold temperatures have been reached for one day and the night.

The alert means there is a 90 per cent chance the maximum threshold temperature for the region – 30C (86F) in the east, 32C (89.6F) for London and 31C (87.8F) for the south east – will also be met on Wednesday.

A level two alert has been issued for the East Midlands – meaning there is a 60 per cent chance the maximum threshold temperature of 30C (86F) could be met. The heat prompted health experts to urge people to take extra care, with temperatures tipped to rise even further after highs of 31C on Tuesday caused by “warm air pushing up from the continent”.

While the heatwave conditions are not set to last beyond Thursday morning, the Bank Holiday weekend is unlikely to be a washout. Forecasters at the Meteogroup said Friday will be largely dry for most areas, with plenty of sunshine and it will stay “fairly warm” in the south east.

However, scattered showers are likely in north west Scotland. On Saturday, showery, heavy rain is expected in north Wales, Northern Ireland and northern England that will spread into Scotland.

The Meteogroup said it will be mostly dry elsewhere, before turning “very warm” in the south once more. Met Office meteorologist Emma Sharples said the temperatures on Wednesday are expected to be the highest in East Anglia and down to London.

On Tuesday, temperatures hit 29.7C (85.5F) in St James Park and 30C in Gravesend, Kent. The Met Office said the highest temperature of 31C (87.8F) was recorded in Cambridge.

Ms Sharples said humid nights can also be expected – with London and the South East unlikely to drop below 20C (68F) on Wednesday. “Parts of northern and central England, Wales – will be a lot cloudier, and as a result a bit cooler with temperatures in the low 20s on Wednesday,” she added.

“Whereas East Anglia and the south east again look like having a largely sunny day and quite warm again so we will be looking at similar temperatures.”